Heads bent over white Starbucks cups, a passerby might assume the circle of teenagers had dozed off over their white chocolate mochas. But this group surrounding their school's flagpole wasn't sleeping. They were praying.

Students from schools across the nation set their alarms a bit earlier on September 23. They gathered together around their schools' flagpoles to observe a 25-year-old tradition - See You At the Pole.

Students led worship and prayers for their schools, their friends, their teachers, and their communities. They lifted up requests about broken homes, violence, and refugees. They prayed for peace in their schools' hallways and grace from their teachers. They prayed for patience and wisdom when dealing with their peers and courage to be bold in their faith when someone mocked it.

As a teacher standing outside of the circle with my own Starbucks cup and whispering my prayers into the warm morning air, I found such hope and joy to see the Lord moving and stirring the hearts and passions of a younger generation.

Many of our public school campuses host Christian organizations before or after school. Whether it be Fellowship of Christian Athletes or another student-led group, kids and teenagers are serving their schools' needs through prayer and worship.

These organizations bring many students into a new relationship with Christ, but often our students aren't equipped with tools to help new Christians find a church home to help them grow in their walks with the Lord. Volunteering at meetings, supplying donuts or a spaghetti dinner following a school event, and building relationships with students can help to build beautiful mentorships.

Prayer brings forth miracles. Ask your church's youth group or children's program to make a list of ways the church can pray for their local school. Encourage your church's youth group and children's program members to get involved in their campus Christian organization or even create one.

Can you imagine a country where students pray around their flagpoles every month, every week, or even every day? That would truly be something to behold.


By Samantha Jo Berry
Samantha is a Spotlight Award winning journalism teacher in CyFair ISD who loves Jesus, flat shoes, and adventures. Follow her on Twitter @samanthamazing or read more of her work on her blog here.

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Our website has tips and resource suggestions if you're interested in starting an on-campus student ministry. Please remember to abide by school and district guidelines.
#Pray4Schools!  

Students across Greater Houston are praying for their schools! Would YOU pray for your local school also? Schools are so often criticized for what they're doing wrong. How powerful would it be if churches across the city came alongside our schools to lift them up in prayer instead?

We'd like to challenge you to commit to praying every Monday morning for your local school. Here's how:


1. PICK A SCHOOL
Think about a school near you, a school that your children or grandchildren attend, or search our searchable map here.


2. PRAY FOR THE SCHOOL
Pray for the students, teachers, administrators, staff, and families represented. If you're feeling ambitious, call the school and ask them what you can pray for. Remember - they're the experts! If your child or grandchild goes there, ask her, her friends, or her teachers what you can pray for.

If you're a mom or grandmother, join (or start!) a Moms in Prayer group in your local school. These mom groups meet throughout the week and across the city to pray Scripturally for their children and for their children's schools.


3. LET US KNOW
Can you imagine how differently people would view God and the Church if they knew that churches across the city were not condemning them but rather lifting them up in prayer?

Hit 'reply' and let us know which school(s) you're committing to pray for. If you plan to engage your church or your small group, let us know which church you're a part of.

You can also spread the word yourself by posting a selfie or picture of the school you're committing to pray for with the caption "I'm praying for ___ (insert school name here) ___ today! #pray4schools".

If we EACH commit to praying for our local school, EVERY child in every school in Houston can be covered in prayer!


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Have a question about how to get started? Hit 'reply' and let us know, or check out our website for more details.


Events  Events
 
Oct 19 Read Across the Globe.
Want to jumpstart your church-school partnership? Invite volunteers to experience what it's like to serve their local school by reading to children (while setting a world record)!
 
Oct 20 Points of Light Faith Day.
Learn how churches can seek the peace and prosperity of this great city God has called us to. Loving Houston will be on the Congregation & Community Collaboration panel!

Oct 22 ATCO.
Does your church need some Biblical inspiration to live missionally? Invite members, lay leaders, and church staff to the FREE At the Corner Of conference to learn and dialogue about living missionally in your corner of Houston.

Check out our Events Page for more trainings and conferences.


Book Icon Inspiration
 
"Our spiritual forefathers... believed God had given them the ability, authority, and assignment to shape society to reflect God's heart and to align it with his design for human life. This prompted them to act - often at great cost to themselves - to combat the oppression, disease, destruction, and death caused by sin. In more recent times, believers regard the brokenness and discord around us quite differently. They are things to flee from rather than to confront...

"[M]any American Christians feel our faith entitles us to a comfortable existence. We expect God to shield us from evil's effects. And many of us believe that it's impossible to make a real difference in the world. So, we focus on our own personal salvation from hell, build our lives around Christian friends of our choosing, and hope society where we live won't
deteriorate too much during our lifetimes...

"If God's children faithfully align all aspects of their lives with God's plan and design for life, they can be instrumental in God's bringing transformation to a broken world. We really can change the world - we do it by changing ourselves!"

 
-The Missing Church by Robert H. Baldwin, Jr. and Galen E. Blom  
 



Click here for more book recommendations to inspire and educate yourselves and your congregations.
 


Our Staff  Our Staff
PETER FORBES
Executive Chairman

MICHAEL KRAXBERGER
Operations Manager

MARILYN LEE
Communications Manager

Loving Houston Website  LOVINGHOUSTON.NET   Twitter TWITTER.COM/LOVINGHOUSTON    Facebook  FACEBOOK.COM/LOVINGHOUSTON